Update: Damaged MOL Containership

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) released a statement updating the status of the containership MOL Comfort as of 11 p.m. JST on June 19, 2013. The vessel could not continue sailing under its own power from June 17 because the hull fractured in two parts while under way on the Indian Ocean, the company said.

Mol Comfort', the 316-m-long vessel was carrying 4,500 containers from Saudi Arabia when it split into two roughly 840 nautical miles off the coast of India.

The Indian Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of all 26 of the ship's crew (12 Russians and 14 Filipinos).

Currently, the aft part is drifting near 13’00”N 61’29”E in an east-northeast direction. The status of the fore part is to be confirmed while the visibility is limited due to adverse weather. The patrol boat which has departed Port of Jebel Ali, U.A.E. on June 19, as mentioned in the Update (No.3), is expected to arrive at the ocean site on June 24.

Some of the containers might be lost or damaged during the incident, but majority of the cargo are confirmed to be aboard the aft part. The status of the fore part is to be confirmed.

MOL has contracted a salvage company and is proceeding to rescue the cargo and hulls.

There have been no confirmed large volume of oil leakage.

Sources: MOL, Staff